US foils Donald Trump assassination plot
- 9 November, 10:14
The United States has foiled an Iranian-initiated plot to assassinate president-elect Donald Trump, the Justice Department revealed on Friday.
The FBI investigators revealed that the suspect identified as Farjad Shakeri, was instructed by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, IRGS, in September this year to prepare a plan to surveil and assassinate the US president-elect.
The Iranian operative, still at large in Iran, told the FBI he didn’t plan to propose a plan to murder Trump within the seven days the official had requested.
Two other suspects recruited to participate in other assassinations, including a prominent Iranian American journalist, were also arrested Friday, the authorities said.
“There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement.
Intelligence officials claim Iran opposed Trump’s re-election, perceiving him as more likely to increase tension between Washington and Tehran. According to federal officials, the assassination plot targeting Trump reflects Tehran’s attempts to target US government officials.
The assassination attempt was foiled just days after Donald Trump defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Trump’s Spokesperson Steven Cheung nothing would stop the president-elect "from returning to the White House and restoring peace around the world."
